Hawaiian electric guitar steel



Jan. 15, 1946. w, MCDANIEL 2,392,937

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC GUITAR STEEL Filed Feb. 25, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Inventor y lg 440a E m Jan. 15, 1946. J. w McDANIEL v 2,392,937

HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC GUITAR STEEL Filed Feb. 25, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 50 x II Inventor J 7 James /4 ////0/72 W- fiame/ M- Patented Jan. 15,i946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE HAWAIIAN ELECTRIC GUITAR STEEL JamesWilliam McDaniel, Raleigh, N. C.

Application February 25, 1944, Serial No. 523,875

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in steelsfor Hawaiian electric guitars. and has for its'primary object toprovide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of thischaracter comprising novel means whereby the flow of current magneticpick-up of the instrument to the amplifier may be convenientlyregulated, thus permitting the volume to be controlled as desired.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an Hawaiian electricguitar steel of the aforementioned characterwhich will be comparativelysimple in construction, durable, efficient in operation, compact andwhich may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing, and still further objects and advantages of theinvention, will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a bottom perspective view of a steel constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal section through the device, showingthe slide in its forward position.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, showing the slide in its rearposition.

Figure 4 is a cross sectional viewftaken substantially on the line 4--4of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 5-5of Figure 3.

Figure 6' is a detail view in perspective of the slidable spring whichengages the rockable contact.

Figure 7 is a detail view in perspective of the rockable contact.

Figure 8 is a detail view in perspective of the carbon resistanceelement.

Figure 9 is a detail view in perspective of the removable conductor wireconnecting plug.

Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a bar Iof suitable metal. Extending into the bar i from its rear end to a pointin spaced relation to its forward end is a groove or channel 2. The barI is further provided on its front side with a dovetail groove 3 whichextends from end to end of said bar and which communicates with able inthe groove 3 and functions as a closure for the channel 2. The slide 4is provided at an intermediate point with ribs or the like 5 tofacilitate actuating said slide with the thumb of the hand which holdsthe bar I.

Mounted longitudinally in the inner portion .of the channel 2 is asubstantially wedge-shaped or tapered paper carbon resistance 6. Theresistance 6 is insulated at I from the bar i. An arcuate, rockablecontact strip 8 is operable on the resistance 8 in the channel 2. Ascrew 9 secures a spring III on the slide 4 in the channel 2. The screw9 and the spring iii are operable on the end portions of the contact 8for rocking said contact on the resistance 6. v

Mounted in the rear end portion of the channel 2 is a removableinsulating plug II on one end of a conductor cord 12. One of the wiresii of the cord I2 is electrically connected to the resistance 6 throughthe medium of a clip II. The other wire i4 of the cord I2 is grounded tothe bar I by a screw I5 which also secures the plug II in position.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparentfrom a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, upon reciprocation ofthe slide 4 with the thumb of the hand which holds the bar i, the screw9 and the spring I0 are moved longitudinally on the end portions of thearcuate contact 8, thus rocking said contact forwardly or rearwardly onthe paper resistance 6. With the contact 8 in the position shown inFigure 2 of the drawings, all of the current is permitted to flow fromthe usual magnetic pick-up l6 (see Fig. 10) ofthe instrument to theamplifier l1 and the volume is onfull. However, as the slide 4 is movedrearwardly the current to the amplifier I1 is progressively reduceduntil the contact 8 has been rocked to the position of Figure 3, inwhich position the volume is completely shut off.

It is believed that the many advantages of an electric Hawaiian guitarsteel constructed in accordance with the present invention will bereadily understood, and although a preferred embodiment 0! the device isas illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in thedetails of construction may be resorted to which will fall within thescope of the invention as claimed.

What i claimed is:

l. A guitar steel of the character described comprisin a bar having alongitudinal channel therein, anelectric resistance in the channel andinsulated from the bar, a manually actuated slide operable on the bar,an arcuate contact rockable the channel 2. A thumb-actuated slide 4 isoperon the resistance in the channel. said slide bein movablelongitudinally oi the bar and the contact, and means on the slideslidably engaging said contact for rocking the latter in oppositedirections.

2. A guitar steel of the character described comprising a bar having alongitudinal channel therein, an electric resistance in the channel andinsulated from the bar, a manually actuated slide operable on the bar,an arcuate contact rockable on the resistance in the channel, said slidebeing movable longitudinally of the bar and the contact, and means onthe slide slidably engaging said contact for rocking the latter inopposite directions, said means including a spring mounted on the slideand slidably engaged with one end portion of the contact, and a screwsecuring said spring to the slide and slidably engaged with the otherend portion of the contact.

3. An electric Hawaiian guitar steel comprising menace? a metallic barhaving a longitudinal channel extending thereintc from one end thereof,said her iurthcr having a dovetail groove therein communicating with thechannel, an electric resistance mounted longitudinally in the channeland insu-

